Men’s, women’s tennis programs earn 2020 ITA All-Academic Awards

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its NCAA Division III All-Academic Team and All-Academic Scholar-Athlete recipients for 2019-20 on Wednesday morning. Both the Defiance College men's and women's tennis programs earned All-Academic Team status with each squad placing two student-athletes on the All-Academic Scholar-Athlete lists.

To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, all members of the program must combine for a minimum grade-point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) during the 2019-20 academic year. The Defiance women's squad posted a 3.299 GPA and the men a 3.24.

ITA Scholar-Athlete selections must have had at least a 3.5 GPA in the past school year. Ethan Harris (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll), a sophomore last season with a 3.89 GPA, and Ben Zedaker (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance), a freshman with a 3.67, were each honored as a Scholar-Athlete from DC's men's team. Representing the women are junior A.J. Breneman (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan), who recorded a 3.63 GPA, and senior Rylea Amspaugh, who finished the year at 3.53.  

Defiance, under head coach Steve Oberlin, is one of just three members of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to be recognized with All-Academic Team accolades.